 | Canon Digital Rebel XTi 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera (Black Body Only)
Buy new: $579.95 / Used from: $430.00 just get the body, save the money for a lens that offers better features.
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 | Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens
Buy new: $89.74 / Used from: $83.00 Great for learning, also sharp, cheap, good for low-light...if you don't like it, it can be sold for close to what you paid.
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 | Sigma AF 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS (Optical Stabilizer) Zoom Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras
Buy new: $446.90 Great price, 11x zoom and image stabilization... Once you learn how to use that nifty-fifty pick this up so you'll have all the range you need.
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 | Lowepro Nova 2 AW Camera Bag (Black)
Buy new: $29.00 / Used from: $30.00 Good size, features and price to hold your stuff. Will hold a couple of lenses and a flash plus accessories and it's not too big.
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 | Opteka Battery Pack Grip / Vertical Shutter Release for Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi & Rebel XT with 2 NB-2LH Batteries (1800 mAh Total)
Buy new: $79.95 You're going to want an extra battery or two, might as well get this grip to go with it for the same price. The equivalent Canon grip costs $126 with no batteries so even if you don't use the grip the batteries are worth it. Besides, lots of people (http://www.abetterbouncecard.com/xtireportpart2.htm) say that the camera feels off-balance without the grip, or if you have big hands it'll help.
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 | Canon E1 - Hand strap
Buy new: $23.92 Strap your camera to you, it's expensive. And the neck straps are big, uncomfortable and tourist-ish. Only works if you have the battery grip on though.
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 | Giottos AA1900 Large Rocket Blaster
Buy new: $10.85 The sensor on your camera will get dirty, when needed just take the lens off the camera, point the camera down, lock the mirror in the up position (exposing the sensor) and give it a couple blasts. Cheap, works, and is the only solution Canon recommends to clean a sensor.
http://web.canon.jp/imaging/enjoydslr/part1/1Bb.html
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 | Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs with a Film or Digital Camera (Updated Edition) by Bryan Peterson
Buy new: $16.47 / Used from: $10.00 Because you'll want to know why your pictures aren't like the pros. This explains what you can do to get away from the P or that little green box and use this thing to its full advantage. This book is a bit dated, so you may also want to take a look at Scott Kelby's "The Digital Photography Book, Volume 1 & 2" for some good pointers too.
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 | Opteka 70" Full Size Professional Photo / Video Tripod
Buy new: $29.95 After your done reading and deciding that you want pictures like that, you need to get a tripod. You SHOULD buy a good one from Bogen/Manfrotto but this is a budget list. Also if your don't want to lug a tripod get a monopod that's tall enough for you. Opteka makes a $13 one to consider but I'm getting a Giottos MM5580 monopod (not sold on Amazon) because of its features (Google it).
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 | Canon Speedlite 580EX II Flash for Canon EOS Digital SLR Cameras
Buy new: $405.16 / Used from: $496.42 Here's where to spend as it's harder to get more light when you need it. Even if you don't need more light, the features are worth the extra money. Don't get this right away though, get to know your camera, see if you even use and are lacking flash that much, and then learn something (flash photography) else.
http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/Canon-580EX-II-Speedlite-Flash-Review.aspx
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 | Sto-Fen OMEY Omni-Bounce Diffuser
Buy new: $8.73 This is the one specified by http://www.stofen.com/ for the 580 EX II flash. Good for not blasting peoples faces with light, you could also use this though: http://www.abetterbouncecard.com/ - for the price just get both.
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Listmania!
